… Delany has few worries about negotiating bigger paydays in the future because it appears that new money for college sports won’t dry up any time soon.

Besides ABC, CBS and ESPN, more bidders such as Fox and NBC Comcast are hot for the good-quality yet relatively-lower-cost programming that sports provide.

“That’s the competition for college football today,’’ Delany said. “It has grown in popularity over the past 15 years, in particular the regular-season games. They all matter nationally.’’

Having games that matter for four full months through the season is a function of the Bowl Championship Series being in place, said Delany, a longtime proponent of that system.

“The BCS is successful and controversial,’’ he said. “We couldn’t have envisioned it would have this much impact on the regular season.’’

The BCS isn’t the sole reason football TV rights fees are climbing. Delany said increased competition and technology are key factors, too.

“I will tell you, though, that we have a wonderful postseason tournament in basketball, but we have a regular season which is modest,’’ he said. “In college football, we have 13 or 14 weekends that are pretty compelling.’’

… I’m starting to get this whole Wrath of Khan vibe from him and Orrin Hatch.

Quote Of The Day

“It brings back a great Bulldog running back in Thomas who has NFL playing experience and has had success as a college coach at multiple schools. He also inherits a position that has been built to an elite level by Bryan. And it gives Bryan the opportunity to return to coaching the position he played and the one where he cut his teeth serving as a graduate assistant under wide receiver coach John Eason here at UGA. It also provides him with a new experience as a passing game coordinator.” -- Mark Richt, AB-H, 2/16/15